ActiveEdge cancelled

[mdh]

For anyone interested, Exercise ActiveEdge has been cancelled this summer in BC.  39 Brigade has decide to concentrate instead on ensuring that as many troops as possible are trained and provided with requisite courses so that they improve on their qualifications.  All units have been asked to contribute as many instructors as possible.  The decision was made in response to declining manpower within the Brigade's area and the concern that not enough courses were being offered to ensure a steady growth in NCOs. Cheers, mdh

 

[stukirkpatrick]

I saw this notice posted in my armoury - I suppose its for the best, considering how many of us on Active Edge 04 had our participation in doubt because of only having our SQ course - thankfully being able to participate to a certain extent, but not entirely.

I wonder if this will affect the upcoming  gateway training that I'm sure many units have planned in the next couple months...

 

[RCA]

The Area is going to concentre on Res Indiv Trg this summer. But it will only work if the indiv Bde pool their resources instead of going it on their own. It hasn't worked in the past and won't in the future.

We have to get our house in order and get our soldiers trg before become self sufficient in trg our own. It will mean help from the Reg F this summer to make up instructor shortfalls as required. It also means all the full-timers in the units will be involved as opposed to some getting exemptions as has been the case in the past. We can't expect 1 CMBG to assist if we don't make every effort within our own resources first.

 

[mdh]

Pooling resources will have to be a priority - there is already a pretty serious shortage of senior NCOs in our unit.   Putting on a weekend BMQ was enough of a strain on our internal training resources, let alone anything more advanced. We're certainly paying the price for a recruiting process that has left us with seriously depleted manpower despite the fact we have more than 50 files in limbo in the recruiting system (yes CFRC desperately needs more resources too). cheers, mdh

 

[GDawg]

I overheard this at a recruiting meeting with 41 Bde. AE04 Was fubar, but I was looking forward to observing the improvements the second time around.  Ah well, just as long as someone in the west puts on a cool ex and invites me I will be happy.

 

[pbi]

Actually, I'm glad to see this stroke of wisdom. Our CBG seriously questioned the actual value of AE when it was first conceived, as being a waste of resources that only trains a small fraction of the Area's Res strength. We run our own Bde FTX ea spring which is always much better attended (and I think, may actually be a better exercise...). On top of that, AE clashes badly with the summer indiv trg cycle, and IT is one of the biggest and meanest of the alligators in the Army Res swamp right now. No tears for AE.

Cheers.

 

[Highland Laddie]

Actually, I'm glad to see this stroke of wisdom. Our CBG seriously questioned the actual value of AE when it was first conceived, as being a waste of resources that only trains a small fraction of the Area's Res strength. We run our own Bde FTX ea spring which is always much better attended (and I think, may actually be a better exercise...). On top of that, AE clashes badly with the summer indiv trg cycle, and IT is one of the biggest and meanest of the alligators in the Army Res swamp right now. No tears for AE.

Cheers.

I concur PBI. The Brigade Ex was a better ex than AE 04. It also appeared to be much better organized.

As for training, we have to focus on indiv training, particularly at the basic trade and junior leadership qualification level. We are now starting to see the 'bow wave' of a good crop of Cpls for future NCOs, which will help the four Sgts who seem to get tasked for everything under the sun. Junior O's, that's another issue altogether.....I fully support the Area Commander's call on this one.

Cheers. Out.

 

[mdh]

Junior O's, that's another issue altogether.....

Hello HighlandLaddie, interesting observation you raise about junior officers - care to elaborate on what's happening in your neck of woods with regard to this topic?

 

[Highland Laddie]

Junior O's, that's another issue altogether.....

Hello HighlandLaddie, interesting observation you raise about junior officers - care to elaborate on what's happening in your neck of woods with regard to this topic?

As the pers in charge of them, they are few in number, and not promising as a whole. Our unit is strong in terms of Captains (I'm one of them), but only has one fully qualified LT, and half qualified 2LT (RPC to go), and four new 2LT / Ocdts. The latter category is not strong, and not very promising at all  :-\.

Our unit will be quite strong with in terms of MCpls & Sgts in about two years (we've got a pretty good group of up and comming Cpls) , but we will be challenged in terms of Junior  Os for Platoon Commanders and other duties. Its a great concern for us. I don't have much faith in our new 2LT / Ocdts in making it through Gagetown, but stranger things have happened.

 

[Rifleman62]

What are the plans for CSS IT? None ! I agree with PBI that CBG FTX are more valve, but that CBG should look farther for a more interesting venue.

 

[Maclimius]

As I do recall, there is a new interesting venue coming down the pipe, CMTC in Wainwright. That combined with the WES (Weapons Effects Simulator) when it comes online should be able to give us some of our most realistic training to date.

 

[Fraser.g]

This is a rhetorical question I know but I gotta ask anyway,

What is the overwhelming desire to re-invent the wheel. What was wrong with the old MILCON exes. They happened at the end of the summer training cycle after all courses were done. Most of the resources were already in wainwright because of the battle school so there was not much for movement of kit.

The Class B contracts were 10 days longer than the courses themselves so if you wanted summer employment...ta da you were on the ex.

It gave people a chance to use their new found skills.

Lets get it back IMHO

GF

 

[GDawg]

So, does anyone happen to know if 41 Bde is going to put on a big ex this summer?
I wouldn't mind an excuse to get away from the office for a few days.

 

[Gunner]

GDawg, I doubt it.  41 CBG has the lead for providing reserve augmentation to TF 1-06 and their focus is on indiv trg and recruiting. Coll trg will be completed duirng BTE 05.